| J.522 |
Sarabha"nga Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once born as the son of the chaplain of the king of Benares. He
was called Jotipala because on the day of his birth, there was a blaze of all kinds
of arms for a distance of twelve leagues around Benares. After having been educated
in Takkasila, he returned to royal service in the court of the king of Benares, earning
1,000 per day. When the king’s attendants grumbled, the king ordered Jotipala to
give an exhibition of his skill. Jotipala exhibited miracles of archery skill and
the king promised to declare him commander-in-chief the following morning. In the
night, however, he felt revulsion for the household life and departed unannounced
for a hermitage at Godhavari. When parents and king visited him, he converted them
to the ascetic life. Jotipala’s (thenceforth known as Sarabhanga) pupils numbered
thousands and representatives were sent to different provinces. When Kisavaccha (an
ascetic) was mistreated by King Dandaki of Kumbhavati, Kisavaccha was brought to
die at Godhavari. At his funeral, celestial flowers fell in a shower for a space
of half a league round the pyre. Sixty leagues of Dandaki’s kingdom were destroyed,
together with the king as the result of the outrage and other kings gathered at Godhavari
in order to learn what retribution awaited others who committed similar outrages.
Three other kings became ascetics under Sarabhanga as the result of his teaching.
The story is told in reference to the death of Moggallana. It is said that after
Moggallana had been attacked by brigands and left for dead, he recovered consciousness
and flying to the Buddha, obtained his consent to die. At his funeral, celestial
flowers also rained down for one league around the funeral pyre. |
61/578 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.v.125ff. |
renunciation, royal conduct |